Thomas Yap, P.E., MBA, PMP, CWI
Principal Consultant
Get to know the expert
Background
Dr. Thomas Yap is a forensic mechanical engineer and licensed Professional Engineer with over 25 years of experience in energy, oil and gas, heavy industry, and industrial systems. He is licensed in 12 U.S. states, reflecting a broad multi-jurisdictional engineering practice. He specializes in failure analysis, root cause investigations, and engineering evaluations involving complex mechanical systems, pressure equipment, rotating machinery, pressure piping systems, welding, and process facilities.
Dr. Yap provides technical expertise in high-consequence incidents, including explosions, fires, equipment failures, structural collapses, welding-related failures, and industrial accidents. His forensic work spans power generation, petrochemical facilities, pipelines, hydrogen systems, wastewater treatment facilities, renewable energy projects, and heavy manufacturing environments. He supports litigation matters through engineering analysis, failure reconstruction, causation evaluations, and expert opinion development.
His expertise includes pressure vessels, heat exchangers, compressors, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, cranes and lifting equipment, drilling systems, pressure piping systems, welding inspections, and other pressure-containing equipment. His experience spans a wide range of industrial applications, including refineries, boiler and burner systems, power plants, oil rigs, pipelines, wastewater treatment facilities, anaerobic digester tanks, vacuum trucks, septic systems, and renewable energy technologies.
He has led and supported investigations involving boiler explosions, pipeline failures, structural collapses, rotating equipment damage, pressure boundary failures, welding-related failures, and hydrogen-related incidents. His work includes evaluation of design, operation, maintenance, fabrication, inspection, and installation factors, as well as determination of causation and contributing factors in complex failure events.
Dr. Yap has held engineering and leadership roles with major energy and industrial organizations, including General Electric, Hitachi, Nel Hydrogen, Cameron (a Schlumberger company), Forum Energy Technologies, Loadmaster, and Favelle Favco. His experience includes the design and evaluation of complex systems such as nuclear reactors, choke and kill manifolds, offshore cranes, tower cranes, pressure vessels, hydrogen electrolyzer systems, and drilling equipment.
In addition to his forensic engineering practice, Dr. Yap possesses extensive technical expertise in energy systems and sustainability. His background includes renewable energy technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass systems, as well as advanced carbon management technologies including Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS). He has conducted research and techno-economic evaluations related to advanced energy technologies, hydrogen infrastructure, and energy system integration.
He applies a wide range of industry codes and standards, including ASME, API, AWS, ANSI, AISC, ABS, and DNV standards. His experience includes ASME B31.1, B31.3, B31.8, ASME Section III and VIII, API 2C, API 4F, API 6A, API 8C, API 9A, API 16C, API 1104, API STD 53, and AWS welding codes and standards. As a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), he evaluates welding integrity, fabrication quality, inspection programs, and compliance with applicable codes and standards in both industrial and forensic applications.
Dr. Yap holds a Ph.D. in Energy Engineering with specialization in hydrogen fuel cell systems, techno-economic analysis, and advanced energy technologies. His doctoral research focuses on techno-economic analysis and Density Functional Theory (DFT) modeling of platinum-based hydrogen fuel cell catalysts for long-range electric vehicle applications. His research and interdisciplinary background enhance his ability to evaluate complex engineering systems, energy technologies, and industrial failures from both technical and economic perspectives.
Languages: Mandarin/Chinese, English, Malay, Cantonese, Hokkien
Education and Certifications
- Energy Engineering, Ph.D.: University of North Dakota (2023-2026)
- MBA (General): University of Houston-Victoria (2021)
- Mechanical Engineering, BEng (Hons): Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (2000)
- Licensed Professional Engineer: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, and Texas
- PMP: No: 3637906
- Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) QC-1: Certificate Number 09072391
- Institution of Engineers Malaysia (MIEM): Member
- Professional Engineer, Title: Ir. (Member of Board of Engineers Malaysia)
- Associate Member of Institute of Mechanical Engineer (AMIMechE), United Kingdom
- OSHA Training: OSHA 30-Hr Certification
Publications
- Song, F., Li, K., Rivas, C. S., Bieneman, K., & Yap, T. (2020). Multidisciplinary Optimization-Enabled Design Automation and Optimization for Blowout Preventer Pipe Rams. Paper No: IMECE2020-24109, V006T06A040. ASME Digital Collection.
- Josephs, R., Yap, T. C., Alamooti, M., Omojiba, T., Benarbia, A., Tomomewo, O. S., & Ouadi, H. (2025). Regulation of small modular reactors (SMRs): Innovative strategies & economic insights. Eng.
- Yap, T. C. (2025). A Review of Techno-Economic Analysis and Density Functional Theory Modeling of Hydrogen Fuel Cells with Platinum-Based Catalysts for Effective Deployment in Long-Range Electric Vehicles. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Article Ref: HE49427.